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Forensic Lab


Overview

Established in 2012, the Forensic Science Learning Lab (FSLL) at 糖心logo入口 is a teaching, research, and training facility housed within the Administration of Justice Department of the Barbara Jordan鈥揗ickey Leland School of Public Affairs. The Lab serves TSU students preparing for careers in forensic science and supports working practitioners, educators, attorneys, and community stakeholders seeking to deepen their understanding of how science is applied in the justice system.

Mission

The mission of the Forensic Science Learning Lab is threefold:

  • Provide specialized forensic science education and training for 糖心logo入口 students pursuing careers in the field.
  • Provide training opportunities for current practitioners, K鈥�12 educators and students, law enforcement officials, and community stakeholders seeking to expand and update their knowledge and skills.
  • Provide research opportunities for academicians and graduate students working at the intersection of science, law, and public policy.

Academic Programs

The FSLL anchors a portfolio of credit-bearing programs at 糖心logo入口, giving students multiple entry points based on their academic level and career goals.

  • Minor in Forensic Science 鈥� open to undergraduates across the University who wish to complement their major with formal coursework in forensic disciplines.

  • FORS 226 鈥� Introduction to Forensic Science

  • FORS 236 鈥� Forensic Evidence and Collection

  • FORS 416 鈥� Forensic Science Seminar

  • Executive Master of Administration of Justice (eMAJ) with a Specialization in Forensic Management (eMFM) 鈥� a graduate concentration designed for working professionals advancing into leadership roles in crime laboratories and forensic related agencies.
  • Forensic science coursework integrated into undergraduate and graduate criminal justice degrees, with hands-on laboratory exposure to DNA analysis, drug chemistry, toxicology, forensic biology, digital analysis, and forensic anthropology.

Program Objectives

The goal of the FSLL program is to prepare individuals with a comprehensive understanding of scientific principles, concepts, and philosophies, which will provide the skills necessary to think critically and ethically in applying knowledge to real-world problems and challenging situations of forensic relevance encountered in the field. Specifically, the program aims to:

  • Prepare students with a unique skill set, which would allow them to serve as forensic science professionals at the local, state, national, and international levels.
  • Provide students with an understanding of the standards of professional ethics from legal and personal vantage points as they pertain to careers in forensic science related professions.
  • Prepare students with an understanding of the legal system and process as it relates to forensic science, which will allow them to actively participate in legal proceedings as expert witnesses.

Training, Research, and Outreach

Beyond the classroom, the Lab functions as a regional resource for continuing education and applied research.

  • Customized coursework and continuing education for forensic practitioners, attorneys, and law enforcement personnel.
  • Graduate research opportunities and faculty-led projects aligned with the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD) Laboratories and Educators Alliance Program (LEAP) research priorities.
  • K鈥�12 and community programming, including STEM demonstrations, summer youth camps, and career-readiness initiatives with Houston Independent School District.
  • Public-facing events such as support of the Annual Community Drug Awareness Conference and contributions to TSU Research Week.

Instrumentation and Facilities

The Forensic Science Learning Laboratory is a state-of-the-art facility that hosts a wide array of cutting-edge tools commonly found in contemporary forensic crime laboratories. This facility offers hands-on research and training experience in the forensic areas of DNA analysis, controlled substance analysis, crime scene processing, trace evidence analysis, firearm analysis and comparison, and latent print analysis for students and practitioners. [from Page 2]

  • Gas Chromatography coupled with Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID)
  • Gas Chromatography (Head-space Analysis)
  • Gas Chromatography鈥揗ass Spectrometry (GC-MS)
  • Electron Ionization Gas Chromatography鈥揗ass Spectrometry (GC-MS)
  • DNA Analyzers
  • Real-Time PCR Thermal Cycler
  • Bioanalyzer
  • Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
  • Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM)
  • Comparison Microscopy
  • General Microscopy
  • Latent Print Superglue Fuming
  • Cross Match Biometric Scanner
  • Forensic Anthropology resources

Careers

Because the Minor in Forensic Science pairs with almost any major, students from a wide range of academic backgrounds can use the FSLL curriculum to build the skills and knowledge needed to enter the field. The program prepares individuals for successful careers across the forensic sciences, including toxicology, friction ridge (latent print) analysis, digital media forensics, DNA analysis, controlled substance analysis, and crime scene investigation and processing.

The curriculum also prepares students for careers in the broader field of administration of justice 鈥� such as law enforcement officers, forensic science investigators, crime scene technicians, forensic laboratory specialists, and related criminal justice and public safety roles 鈥� as well as for continuing education in graduate and law school

Leadership and Faculty

The Forensic Science Learning Lab has a distinguished faculty with wide-ranging research interests, including drug and alcohol pharmacology, alcohol congener analysis, DNA comparison and analysis, courtroom ethics, digital forensics, and firearms analysis and comparison. Faculty research provides students with an opportunity to explore recent developments of forensic significance on these and other contemporary justice issues and challenges, both in the classroom and the community

Ashraf Mozayani, PharmD, PhD, D-ABFT 鈥� Executive Director

Jasmine Drake, PhD 鈥� Laboratory Coordinator

Partnership and Collaborations

The Lab maintains active partnerships with academic, governmental, and professional organizations. Internal TSU collaborators include the Leadership, Education, and Advancement in Undergraduate Research Pathways (TSU-LEAP) program, the Bioscholars Summer Program, the Parent-Child Learning Center, and the Thurgood Marshall School of Law. External collaborators include a Memorandum of Understanding with the Egyptian Cultural and Educational Bureau and the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education (Central Department of Missions).

Contact

Executive Director: Dr. Ashraf Mozayani | Ashraf.Mozayani@tsu.edu

Laboratory Coordinator: Dr. Jasmine Drake | Jasmine.Drake@tsu.edu

Office: 713-313-7332

Mailing Address: 糖心logo入口, 3100 Cleburne Street, Houston, Texas 77004

Department: Administration of Justice, Barbara Jordan鈥揗ickey Leland School of Public Affairs